Measurement of plasma colloid osmotic pressure in normal thoroughbred neonatal foals.

The research article outlines a study that aimed to establish the normal range for plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in newborn thoroughbred foals and comparing it to the range in adult horses. The study revealed that the COP in healthy foals is lower than in healthy adult horses.

Research Methods

• The study extracted plasma samples from 38 healthy newborn Thoroughbred foals after they underwent a postfoaling examination, along with 10 healthy adult Thoroughbred horses.
• An available commercial colloid osmometer was used for the analysis of these samples.
• Two samples were taken from twelve of the foals. The first sample was collected within the first 24 hours of their life, and the second one was obtained somewhere between 24 to 72 hours after their birth.
• In the case of foals, from whom two samples were extracted, only one value was randomly chosen for the group analysis.
• All samples from the foals were checked for the concentration of total plasma protein, albumin, and globulins.

Findings

• The average plasma COP for foals as proven by the 38 samples examined was 18.8 +/- 1.9 mm Hg.
• Their study found no significant variation in the measured plasma COP over the time period under inspection for either the twelve paired samples or the 38 samples using regression analysis.
• The mean COP value, derived using previously determined quadratic equations utilizing the concentration of total protein, albumin, and globulin, has been found to underestimate the mean measured foal COP values. The exception to this finding is when the total protein calculated by a refractometer is applied in the Landis-Pappenheimer equation.
• The last conclusion made was that the plasma COP interval, with a 95% confidence interval between 15.0 mm Hg and 22.6 mm Hg, obtained from healthy foals was lower than that of healthy adult Thoroughbreds, which was 20.6 +/- 0.7 mm Hg.